As Chair of ASEAN 2026, the Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced on Thursday it will push for the adoption of the “Advancing ASEAN Energy Interconnectivity through the Operationalization of the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ASEAN Power Grid” initiative, as the first step to fully connect and upgrade the region’s energy landscape.
In a press briefing, DTI Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said that “energy security is regional security.”
The MOU on the ASEAN Power Grid will not only help address pressing energy security challenges but also drive ASEAN closer to its vision of a fully interconnected, modernized, and sustainable energy landscape, Gepty told reporters.
“We must work together to maintain stability in the region’s energy supply by strengthening cooperation across our energy networks, improving connectivity across supply chains, and ensuring the continued openness of maritime routes that are vital to global trade and energy flows,” Gepty said.
The AEM’s Retreat comes at an “unprecedented time” where the global economy is facing myriad and complex challenges such as geopolitical tensions, climate risks, supply chain disruptions, technological transformation, and the Middle East conflict, Gepty said.
“ASEAN is not spared by the effects of these economic realities; the disruptions brought about by the conflict in the Middle East continue to affect global supply chains and energy markets, reminding us that energy security is closely tied to economic stability and regional resilience,” Gepty said.
The AEM’s Retreat involves substantive, important discussions that are timely and urgent given recent developments, Gepty said.
“ASEAN remains central to these developments and plays a vital role in shaping the global economy. Thus, showing our united resolve as we navigate our future is a strength in itself,” Gepty said.
The theme of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship is “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
